Liquid dispensing apparatus



Feb 11 1941- R. J. JAUCH ETAL v 2,231,523

LIQUID DISPENSING APPARATUS Filed May 8, 1939 4 sheets-smeet 1 omega Feb. l1, 1941. R 1 JAUCH ETAL 2,231,523

LIQUID DISPENS ING APPARATUS Filed May 8, 1939 4 Sheets-Sheet 2 Gttornegs R. J. JAUcH ETAL 2,231,523

LIQUID DISPENSING APPARATUS Filed May 8, 1939 4 Sheets-Sheet 5 VFeb. 11, i941. R 1 JAUCH ETAL `2,231,523

LIQUID DIsPENsING APPARATUS Filed May 8, 19:59'

4 Sheets-Sheet 4 :inventor JM a if Patented Feb. 1l, 1941 LIQUID DISPENSING APPARATUS Robert J. Jauch, Ross H. Arnold, and Robert P. Eninger, Fort Wayne, Ind., assignors to The Wayne Pump Company, Fort Wayne, Ind., a corporation of Maryland Application May 8, 1939, Serial No. 272,532

5 Claims.

This invention pertains to liquid dispensing apparatus and pumps to be used in connection therewith, and also pumps to be-used in connection with installations for dispensing large quan- 5 'tities of liquid rapidly and efiiciently as in bulk station installations, city pumping stations, and the like.

It is an object of this invention to provide a liquid dispensing apparatus wherein entrained air i is separated from the liquid to be dispensed, on the suction side of the pump rather than on the discharge side.

Another object vis to provide a liquid dispensing apparatus wherein liquid is dispensed from the l pump only after a predetermined vacuum is ,built Still another object of the invention is to pro- A vide a liquid dispensing apparatus adapted to use a centrifugal pump or other piunping means but zo wherein the system is so constructed and arranged that it is self-priming.

A further object of the invention is 'to provide a liquid dispensing apparatus which is self-priming and one wherein a centrifugal pump may be '25 used.

A still further object is to provide a liquid dispening apparatus wherein the removal of entrained air is effected through use of an ejector.

. Another further object of the invention is to provide a liquid dispensing apparatus operable to dispense liquid only after a predetermined vacuum is built up, but one which is eiiective without a substantial adjustment regardless of the lift of liquid from a source cf supply to the pump of said apparatus.

' A diierentobject of the invention is to provide a pumping unit operable after a predetermined vacuum is attained, but capable of throttling in the event of leakage or a reduction in said vacuum. 40 Yet a different object is to provide a centrifugal pump which is directly connected to a vertical motor shaft wherein the motor bearings are arranged to accommodate the weight and thrust of the impeller and shaft, and one which can be changed from la vacuum suction operation to a flooded suction operation without any-mechanical change of the device.

A still different object of the invention is to provide a pump wherein a drainable air cushion is provided to absorb the hydraulic shock incident to opening and closing the dispensing valve or otherwise abruptly checking the liquid flow while the pump is in operation.

Yet another object is to provide a pump construction wherein the discharge valve will not (Cl. 10S- 111) open if the pump is started against a suction leak which exceeds air removal capacity of the ejectors, but if the leak is not too great liquid will be discharged after air removal but at a reduced rate, and one wherein no back pressure valve or loaded check valve is needed beyond the measuring means or meter, andwherein no air separation or air release means of any supplementary nature need be provided. Y

Yet a further object is to provide a pumping 10 unit wherein there can Ibe substantially no hydraulic shock to the lines and joints when the pump is placed in'operation, and wherein a seal is provided which will permit the driving means to be readily dissociated from the pump casing 15 g without the removal of extensive connecting lines or parts of the pump housing.

A diiierent further object of the invention is to provide a pumping unit wherein hydraulic shock is absorbed between the dispensing means and the 20 pump, and wherein the shock absorbing device is so constructed and arranged that it is effective for different delivery pressures and never completely fills with liquid.

With these and various other objects in view, 25 the invention may consist of certain novel features of construction and operation as will be more fully described and' particularly pointed out in the specification, drawings and claims appended hereto.

In the drawings, which illustrate embodiments of the device and wherein like reference characters are used to designate like parts- Figure 1 `is a developed sectional elevation, partly diagrammatic, through the pump construc- 35 tion embodying the invention;

Figure 2 is a sectional elevation through the outlet and settling chamber of the pump construction embodying the invention;

Figure 3 isa top plan View of the pump con- 40 struction illustrated in Figures l and 2;

Figure 4 is a transverse sectional elevation taken in the plane as indicated by line 4-4 of Figure 3,

a portion of said section, however, being through one of the electors.

Figure 5 is an enlarged sectional elevation of the shock absorbing device, the same being taken in a plane -at substantially deg. to that of the device shown in Figure 2.

In the pump construction illustrated, the pump 50 casing 20 is provided with the inlet casting 22 'which is adapted to be connected to a source of liquid supply (not shown), the inlet beingprovided with suitable fastening means such as -the ange 24 for attachment to a pipe line adapted to 55 be connected to said source of supply (not shown).

Said inlet casting is provided with a screen 26 for preventing the entry of foreign material into the pump, the screen being accessible through the cover plate 28 suitably secured to the casting above the screen. The screen is provided in a well 30 whereby there is formed in the inlet casting a manifold or baille for maintaining a certain predetermined liquid level ln the pump casing after it has once been primed. The inlet casting is secured as at 32 to the pump casing 26 and supplies liquid to the suction chamber 34 through the inlet opening 36. The suction chamber 34 is disposed above the impeller chamber 38 which is preferably formed by the bottom plate 40 suitably secured as at 42 to the casing 20.

The upper portion of the pump casing is prol vided with the seal 44 adapted tov have cooperative relation with the vertically extending motor shaft 46, the motor shaft 46 being rotated by means of the motor 48 mounted on the pump casing as at 50. The seal 44 is preferably designed so that the motor may be removed or replacedwithout the necessity of disturbing any piping after the pump is once installed and is designed so that a minimum of parts of theA pump assembly need be moved in applying the motor. To this end a sleeve 52 is threaded as at 54 to the motor shaft, shellac or litharge forming a seal to prevent leakage, the Y :leeve having a lower bearing face 56.

The gland 58 is threaded as at 60 into the casing 20, preferably in a well or basin 62 provided in the top thereof below the motor, and a collar 64 is threaded as at 66 into the base of the gland 58, the collar being spaced from the shaft 46. The lower plate 68 is supported on the collar 64 by being fastened between said collar and the shoulder 10 formed in the gland. n

A vertically extending cylindrical sleeve 12 is disposed between the member 68 and the seal supporting member 14, the member '|4 having a snug t adjacent its periphery with the inner surface of the gland in order to form a guide for the Sylphon 16 disposedA between the members 68 and '|4 and preferably being secured to said members. The member '|4 is provided with a seal ring.'|8 suitably secured therein as by means of the recess provided inthe member 14 and upwardly extending inner and outer flanged and reanged members, said member 18 being preferably of carbon, having a flattened upper surface adapted to have sliding and sealing engagement with the surface 56 of the sleeve 52. 'I'he details of said seal are shown and described' in Patent No. 2,216,975.

The member 'I2 prevents the Sylphon from being crushed as when the motor is being applied. The Sylphon forms a seal preventing leakage into the basin 62 and in some instances it may be desired to provide an expansion spring as shown in said Patent No. 2,216,975, disposedbetween the members 68 and 'I4 to aid the spring action of the- Sylphon or to take some of the spring effect of the Sylphon and thus lessen wear thereon.

'I'he casing is provided with the passage 90 extending from the basin 62 and provided with the overflow breather member 4.92, causing any leakage, should it occur past the seal, to be conducted from the motor bearings. Also the passage forms means for introducing oil into the well 62 supplying lubricant to the seal 44 and sleeve 52, and this may be done by removing the capot the breather member. This passage being below the motor bearing prevents any liquid from reachupper by the valve ||8 with a well |30 in which the float ing the bearing and also acts as a telltale to show excessive leakage.

The shaft 46 adjacent the lower end thereof is provided with the impeller 94 secured thereto as at 96 and rotating in the impeller chamber, the eye of the impeller being adapted to receive liquid from the suction chamber, suitable sealing means 98 being preferably provided such as shown and described in Patent No. 2,124,681, granted July 26, 1938, to prevent the impeller becoming air bound. The impeller chamber 38, which may be p'rovided with the drain |00, is in communication with a passage |02 of said chamber which may conveniently be termed' a pressure passage. The

Y pressure passage communicates with a jet |04 which is aligned with and communicates with the ejector tube |06 which is preferably of the Venturi type, the jet and ejector tube forming ejector means, and being in suction communication with a jet chamber or an ejector vacuum vestibule |08 which is in communication with the suction chamber adjacent a high point thereof as at |09. The jet and ejectors may be of any convenient number, depending upon the capacity of the pump. For example, a pump rated at 100 gpm. using a 3 H. P. electric motor fordriving means, utilizes three jets of a predetermined size which it has been found are more efiicient than ejector means of any other number.

The jet chamber also is connected to the suction chamber by means of the passage |||J extending downwardly to a point near the eye of the impeller whereby when the jet is priming the vapor is drawn from the eye of the impeller or from the suction chamber 34, and after the vapor is exhausted and solid liquid is being passed through the passage H0, the eiciency of the pump is increased. The ejector tube communicates with a transfer corridor or ejector line ||2 which communicates with the float` chamber or ejector discharge settling chamber I4. The settling chamber ||4 is provided with a small opening ||6 forming communication between the settling chamber ||4 and the suction chamber 34. Passage of liquid through said opening is controlled which, as shown, is of the rotary sleeve type, said valve being operated from fully closed to fully open position by means of the float |20 connected to said valve by means of the stem |22, the position of the float being determined by the amount of liquid in the settling chamber thus controlling the operation of the valve.

In order to provide a pump which may be used either on asuction line from a source of supply below the pump or for a flooded suction from a source of supply above vthe pump, the settling chamber ||4 is connected to a float chamber |24 as at |26, the baille |28 being provided between said chambers. The chamber |24 is provided |32 is disposed, the bottom of the well being provided with a drain |34. The well |30 is always provided with a predetermined amount of liquid as determined by the aperture |35, and the oat is pivotally connected as at |36 to the lever` |38, the opposite end of said lever being pivoted at |40 to a pedestal in the chamber |24. l

The lever -|38 is pivotally connected to the valve stem |42, the upper end of which is provided with the vent control valve |44, the vent valve |44 con-4 trolling the vapor outlet |46 which may be attached to the Well known vent pipe |48, and a .screen may be provided either in the opening |26 passage |02 communicates with the cylindrical valve chamber |50 through the opening |52, the valve chamber communicating with the intervalve chamber |54, preferably provided with the drain |56, said` valve chamber communicating with the cylindrical chamber |58, disposed adjacent and communicating with the outlet chamber |60, the outlet chamber preferably being provided with the flange |62 to facilitate attachment of piping to the outlet. The valve chamber |50 is provided with the vertically sliding sleeve valve |64, said sleeve valve having the plane of the loweredge angularly disposed with respect to the axis to increase the gradually throttling effect, and said valve is provided with a. spider |68 adapted to be pivotally connected to the vertically extending piston rod |12, said rod extending upwardly through a suitable stufng box |16, the upper end of said rod being pivotally or flexibly connected to the piston |80, the piston being provided with a suitable leather |84 and sliding in the cylindrical chamber or cylinder |88.

The piston |80 is provided with the upwardly extending guide rod |92 projecting into a suitable guide |86 provided in the hood or valve cover 200. The guide is provided with a removable cap 204 to facilitate freeing the valve should it stick, as by the insertion of a suitable tool engaging in the threads 208. The piston is provided with the primary weight 2|2 directly engaging said piston, and alsecondary weight 2 |6 is provided above the primary Weight, said secondary weight being so disposed that a predetermined movement of the piston is necessaryin an upward direction before the secondary weight is effective, and for this purpose the secondary weight is provided with the depending skirt 220 engaging the upper Vedge of the cylinder |88, a lower stop for said secondary weight thus being provided, the upper stop for the valve being provided by the hub on the' weight 2|6 (Figure 2).

'I'he jet chamber |08 is connected to the hood 200 and thus to the upper side of said'piston by means of the passage 224 which communicates with said hood 200, the passage 226 being in effect a continuation of the jet chamber, and suitable apertures may be provided in the skirt 220 or cylinder |88 to permit equalization of the pressure inside and outside of the cylinder. 'I'he piston chamber below the pistons in the cylinder |88 is connected to the passage 228, and an external line in the form of a pipe or conduit 230 is connected at one end as at 232 to the inletcasting 22, the other end of said line being connected as at 234 to the passage 228.

The inter-valve chamber |54, as has already been described, communicates with the cylindrical chamber |58, the upper part of which provides a seat 236 adapted to be connected to the shock absorber adapter 238 as at 240. The dome shaped air chamber 242 of the shock absorber is closed at its upper end by means of the plug 244, and is flanged as at 246 for the reception of securing means 248 adapted to secure the air chamber to the adapter. The valve cage 250 is provided with flanges 252 adapted to be disposed between the anges 246 of the air chamber and the adapter for securing the cage in place. The cage consists essentially of the upper internally .threaded portion 254 connected to the flanges 252 by means of vthe spaced legs 256, the member 254 being adapted to receive the externally threaded spring cap 258. The spring cap 258 its therefore adjustable to increase or decrease the compression of the spring 260, saidspring being disposed between the spring seat 262 of the spring cap and the seat member 264 of the valve 286, said valve being normally urged to closed position on the seat 268 of the cage. The spring cap 258 is also provided with the guide 213 having spaced channels adjacent the top, said guide slidably receiving the valve stem 21| for guiding the travel of the valve 266. Said spring 260 is set to open at greater than normal delivery pressure, the adjustment being made for different installations to accommodate the selected delivery pressure. i

The air chamberA 242 is also provided with the threaded boss 210 to which the fitting 212 is connected, said fitting being provided with the tube 214 connected through the fitting 216 to the jet chamber |08. In the case of a pump which does not use a flooded suction, the fitting 216 may be connected to the suction chamber, but preferably it is connected to the jet chamber, as a pump may be utilized with a flooded suction, and therefore by connecting it to the jet chamber it isl connected to a part of the pump where a vacuum always exists in operation.

In operation of this device, assuming that the' pump casing is dry, enough liquid is added, preferably to establish the liquid level as determined by the inlet 36. The sleeve valve |64, of course is closed, being maintained in this position by means of the primary weight 2|2. When the motor control is operated to start the motor 48, said motor causes rotation of the shaft 46, which in turn rotates the impeller 94, causing liquid supplied to the impeller from the suction chamber 34 to be discharged by said impeller into the impeller chamber and upwardly of the passage |02. The valve |64 being closed, the liquid will pass upwardly through the jet and ejector tube, tending to cause a vacuum to be formed in the jet chamber |08. The vacuum-causes flow of vapor, or pulls the vapor from the suction chamber through the passage into the vacuum chamber where it'will be exhausted by means of liquid passing through the ejector. Also, the vacuum in the jet chamber causes a vacuumin the chamber above the piston, that is, within the valve cover 200, tending to cause the piston |80 to move upwardly, but upward movement of the piston is resisted by the vacuum below said piston |80 due to the suction occurring on the suction side of the pump communicated to the said piston below the same, through the conduit 230 and passage 228, and also upward movement of the piston will be resisted by the primary weight 2|2.

Liquid passing through the ejector will flow through the ejector line I2 into the settling chamber ||4, and after the liquid has reached a predetermined level, upward mo'vement of the oat |20 will cause opening of the valve I8 to permit liquid to ow through the port |6 to the suction chamber, and thence to the eye of the impeller. Vapor is released in the settling chamber and passes upwardly through the opening |26 and to the vent pipe |48, inasmuch as the valve |44 will be opened. After the air has been eliminated and the pump is pumping solid liquid, the vacuum created by the jet will overcome the primary and secondary weights and the suction vacuum below the piston, permitting the piston to move upwardly to open the valve |64, whereupon liquid will pass outwardly to be dispensed. By the use of' the primary and secondary weights there will be less vacuum differential necessary to initially open the valve, due to the fact that the primary weight is effective prior to the time when the secondary weight becomes effective, i. e., up to the time when the valve is but slightly cracked, and by the use of a sleeve valve the surge of liquid in priming has no tendency to unseat the valve to thereby decrease the amount of priming liquid provided in the pump casing.

By the use of a plurality of ejectors rather than a booster pump, a more eillcient device is pro` vided, inasmuch as the vacuum created by the ejectors is proportional to the liquid pressure going through the ejectors. 'I'he more air through the ejectors, up to a certain point (that is, the capacity of the ejector), the more eilicient the ejectors become and the greater the air removing capacity possible. Should an amount of Y air be introduced, the valves will throttle due to the diierence in vacuums, permitting greater supply of liquid to the ejectors, whereby the air is removed and more quickly vented to the atmosphere. With the use of an ejector instead of a booster pump, it is possible to increase the capacity with the increase in main pump pressure, whereas the booster type of pump is of the constant capacity' type.

In the present embodiment pressure is increased by throttling the valve, which throttling results from the increase of vapor and air in the casing, so that in the embodiment shown it is possible to obtain maximum eiciency at the time when it is most needed, that is, at the' time of priming, and at this time of course the mechanical booster fails, in that its eciency is decreased by the increase of vapor or air.

In order to accommodate a condition where the source of supply is abovek the pump, such as a ilooded suction condition, the second float chamber |24 is provided. Any air released in the float chamber |I4 passes out of the vent |68 as described. However, there will be some vapor supplied to the chamber |24 which will be precipitated. When the lever reaches a certain predetermined amount the float |32 will close the valve |44, and thus there is always a predetermined amount of liquid adjacent the float and, in going from normal suction condition to a ooded suction condition, the predetermined amount of liquid will permit the float |32 to close the valve |44 rapidly when the liquid level is raised to prevent a charge of liquid being lost through the vent tube |48. Also, by maintaining a liquid level of a predetermined amount for the float |32, a minimum of additional liquid will cause the valve |44 to close so that the float causes a quick response to any liquid supplied to the chamber 24.

In many installations, particularly those using a so-called bulk pump, a long line'is used. At the end of the line, of course, there is provided some discharge means as a nozzle. In operation it is frequently necessary to close the nozzle valve abruptly, causing a hydraulic shock to be communicated through the line. The longer the line, the harder or greater the .shock when an obstruction is placed in the line, such as closing the nozzle valve. By using the shock absorber device the shock is taken ahead of the pump, that is, it is not communicated to the pump because the liquid will cause the ,valve 266 to overcome the pressure of the spring 260, lifting the valve and causing a surge of liquid into the dome 242 until the pressure is equalized, at which time the valve would finally result in the shock absorber be coming inoperative.

With the pump as shown, there is always a vacuum in the ejector chamber |08 regardless of whether a low tank is used or a flooded suction, and therefore upon operation of the pump the liquid trapped in the dome will be exhausted from the dome by means of the line 214 so that the shock absorber is always operative. With a construction of this character the pump is relieved of hydraulic shock, and the line is relieved of hydraulic shock, preventing any tendency toward leakage at the joints thereof. In the case of a low tank the hydraulic shock is not transmitted to the lfoot valve, which might result in rendering the foot valve inoperative, and in the case of a ooded suction no shock is transmitted to the overhead tank.

It is to be understood that we do not wish to be limited by the exact embodiments of the device shown, which are merely by way of illustration and not limitation as various and other forms of the device will of course be apparent to those skilled in the art without departing from the spirit of the invention or the scope of the claims.

What is claimed is:

1. In a pump, the` combination of a casing having a suction chamber adapted to be connected to a source of supply, an impeller chamber, an impeller mounted to rotate in said impeller chamber and adapted to be supplied with liquid from said suction chamber, a jet chamber having ejecting means therein for receiving liquid from said impeller, liquid passing through said ejecting means causing substantially a vacuum to be formed in said jet chamber, said impeller chamber being connected to an outlet from said casing, a connection between said jet chamber and said impeller chamber, a shock `absorber connected to said outlet, said shock absorber including a. chamber, a normally closed predetermined pressure set valve between said last named chamber and outlet, and a connection between said last named chamber and said jet chamber, said connection being adjacent the lowest portion of said last named chamber.

2. in a pump, the combination of a casing having a suction chamber adapted to be connected to a source of supply, an impeller chamber, an impeller mounted to rotate in said impeller chamber and adapted to be supplied with liquid from said suction chamber, vacuum producing means constantly lproducing a vacuum during the operation of said impeller, said vacuum producing means being connected to said suction chamber, said impeller chamber beingconnected to an outlet from said casing, a connection between said impeller chamber and said vacuum producing means, a shock absorber connected to said outlet, said shock absorber including a chamber, a normally closed predetermined pressure set valve between said last l,

3. In a pump, the combination of a. casing.

having a suction chamber adapted to be connected to a source of supply, an impeller chamber, an impeller mounted to rotate in said'impeller chamber and adapted to be supplied with liquid from said suction chamber, vacuum producing means constantly producing a vacuum during the operation of said impeller, said vacuum pro ducing means being connected to said suction chamber, said impeller chamber being connected to an outlet from said casing, said vacuum producing means being operable by the liquid pumped by said impeller, a shock absorber connected to said outlet', said shock absorber including a chamber, a normally closed predetermined pressure set valve between said last named chamber and outlet, and a connection between said last named chamber and said .vacuum producing means, said connection being adjacent the lowest portion of said last named chamber.

4. In a pump, the combination of a. casing having a suction chamber adapted to be connected to a source of supply, an impeller chamber, an impeller mounted to rotate in said impeller chamber and adapted to be supplied with liquid from said suction chamber, vacuum producing means constantly producing a vacuum during the operation of said impeller, said impeller chamber being connected to an outlet from said cas-` ing, a. shock absorber connected to said outlet,

said shock absorber including a chamber, a normally closed predetermined pressure set valve between said last named chamber and outlet,- a connection between said last named chamber and said vacuum producing means, said connection being adjacent the lowest portion of said last named chamber, and a connection between said vacuum producing means and said suction chamber.

5. In a pump, the combination of a casing having a suction chamber adapted to be connected to a source of supply, an impeller chamber, an impeller mounted to rotate in said impeller chamber and adapted to be supplied with liquid from said suction chamber, said impeller chamber being connected to an outlet from said casing, a shock absorber connected to said outlet, said shock absorber including a chamber, anormally closed predetermined pressure set valve between said last named chamber and outlet, vacuum producing means constantly producing a vacuum during the operation of said impeller, and connecting means connecting said vacuum producing means/to said suction chamber and to said chamber of said shock absorber adjacent the lowest portion of said last named chamber. .25

ROBERT J. JAUCH. ROSS H. ARNOLD. ROBERT P. ENINGER. 

